Ethel Merman101
Merman: Films and Television
Compiled by John Kenrick
Merman
in her early Hollywood days -- when the studios were at a loss as to how
to showcase her talents.
Broadway's ultimate musical comedy star made more than her share of appearances on the big and small screens. Here's a list of some of Merman's most notable film and video moments. Where no role is listed, Merman appeared as herself.
Films
- Follow the Leader, aka "Manhattan Mary" (1930) - Helen King
- Cave Club, The (1930) - Short subject
- Devil Sea, The (1931) - Short subject
- Roaming (1931) - Short subject
- Let Me Call You Sweetheart (1932) - Short subject
- You Try Somebody Else (1932) - Short subject
- Time on My Hands (1932) - Short subject
- Old Man Blues (1932) - Short subject - Helen
- Song Shopping (1933) - Short subject
- Be Like Me (1933) - Short subject
- We're Not Dressing (1934) - Edith
- Kid Millions (1934) - Dot Clark
- Strike Me Pink (1936) - Joyce Lennox
- Anything Goes, aka "Tops Is the Limit" (1936) - Reno Sweeney
- Big Broadcast of 1936, The (1936)
- Happy Landing (1938) - Flo Kelly
- Alexander's Ragtime Band (1938) - Jerry Allen
- Straight, Place and Show (1938) - Linda
- Stage Door Canteen (1943)
- Call Me Madam (1953) - Sally Adams
- There's No Business Like Show Business (1954) - Molly Donahue
- It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World (1963) - Mrs. Marcus
- Art of Love, The (1965) - Madame Coco
- Around the World of Mike Todd (1968) - Documentary
- Journey Back to Oz (1971 - animated) - voice of Mombi
- Won Ton Ton, The Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976) - Hedda Parsons
- Airplane! (1980) - Lieutenant Hurwitz
Noteworthy TV Appearances
(Please Note: This list covers Merman's musical and dramatic performances -- it does not include her numerous appearances on talk shows, news programs, award shows, and frequent guest spots on The Ed Sullivan Show.)
- Inside U.S.A. with Chevrolet (1949)
- United States Steel Hour, The (1956)
- Ford 50th Anniversary Show, The (1953) - duet with Mary Martin
- Anything Goes (1954) - Reno Sweeney
- Panama Hattie (1958) - Hattie Maloney
- Startime (1960)
- Merman on Broadway (1961)
- Judy Garland Show, The (1963)
- Judy Garland Show, The (CBS Jan. 12, 1964)
- The Bell Telephone Hour (NBC - Jan. 28, 1964) - all-star Cole Porter tribute, with Merman singing several of her standards
- Lucille Ball Show, The (CBS - June 1, 1964) "Lucy Teaches Ethel Merman to Sing"
- Lucille Ball Show, The (1964) "Ethel Merman and the Boy Scout"
- The Hollywood Palace (ABC - 1965) - Merman teaches host Fred Astaire to sing loudly
- Evening with Ethel Merman, An (1965)
- Front Page Challenge (1967)
- That Girl (ABC - 1967) - "Pass the Potatoes, Ethel Merman"
- Batman (ABC - Oct. 5, 1967) - "The Sport of Penguins," featured Merman as the evil Lola Lasagne
- Annie Get Your Gun (NBC - March 16, 1967) - Annie Oakley
- Tarzan and the Mountains of the Moon (1967)
- Carol Burnett Show, The (CBS - 1969)
- This Is Your Life (Syndicated - 1971) - Ralph Edwards took Merman on a nostalgia binge
- 'S Wonderful, 'S Marvelous, 'S Gershwin (NBC - 1972) - Merman sang "I Got Rhythm"
- Boston Pops, The (1975)
- Muppet Show, The (1976)
- You're Gonna Love it Here (CBS - 1977) - unsuccessful sitcom pilot; Merman played Dolly Rogers, a touring musical comedy star.
- Salute to American Imagination, A (1978)
- Ford 75th Anniversary Show (1978) - Merman sang "Before the Parade Passes By"
- Special Sesame Street Christmas, A (1978)
- Musical Comedy Tonight (PBS - Oct. 1979)
- Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July (1979) - voice of Lilly Loraine
- Love Boat, The (1979) - Roz Smith (Gopher's Mother)
- Live From Lincoln Center: Beverly Sills Farewell Performance (PBS - Oct. 1980)
- Love Boat, The (1980) - Roz Smith
- Ronald Reagan's Inaugural Celebration (ABC - Jan. 19, 1981) - Merman sang "Everything's Coming Up Roses"
- Showstoppers (HBO - 1981) - Merman sang "Kick" and "No Business"
- Love Boat, The (1981) - Roz Smith
- Something a Little Less Serious (1981) - Mrs. Marcus
- Love Boat, The - The Musical (ABC 1982) - Roz Smith
- Over Easy (PBS 1982) - a reunion with Mary Martin
- Royal Command Performance (BBC - 1982) - sang "No Business Like Show Business" during the finale
- Broadway: A Special Salute (PBS - 1985) - taped years earlier, this all-star gala was not broadcast until shortly after Merman's death